Apparatus for distending web materials



E. COHN ETAL APPARATUS FOR msmnnme WEB MATERIALS Feb. 10, 1970 8 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 196'? m m w m P QE 1 was:

EUGENE COHN FRANK CATALLO ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.- 25, 1967 FIG.

FIG. 3

INVENTORS EUGENE COHN 1 FRANK CATALLQ BY WMQZ/ ATTORNEYS Feb. 10, 1970 E. COHN ETAL 3,494,011

APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS Filed Jan. 25, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

INVENTORS EUGE N E CO H N BY FRANK CATALLO ATTOR NEYS Feb. 10,1970 'E.COHN ETAL 3,494,011

APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS Filed Jan. 25, 8 Sheets-Skeet 4 FIG. '6

o 0 L i 75 l e5---1 so i I l ii I! \/79 i 1 m 1| ll 5,4- \4 78 H I I! i 6 4 74 73 72 E 5 INVENTORS EUGENE con-m FRANK CATALLO [7 BY J WWKM N} ATTORNEYS Feb. 10, 1970 E. COHN ET AL APPARATUS FOR, DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS Filed Jan. 25,

8 Sheets-Sheet 6 WWW (JG/Wag ATTORNEYS Feb. 10, 11970 E. COHN ET AL APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS Filed Jan. 25, 1967 FIG. E? L lol IIIJYIIIII'IIIIIIIIII FIG. 12

8 Sheets--$heet 7 E O i 9 r i g l N Q l II m Q qm I 9! co 8 i a s g I E2 '2 I p. 5! m N '2 '2 .5

INVENTORS EUGENE COHN FRANK CATALLO BY ATTORNEYS SNL m H E \iEE mw m I W m m .w am A F WF Feb. 10, 1970 E. COHN ETTAL APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS Filed Jan. 25, 1967 United States Patent 3,494,011 APPARATUS FOR DISTENDING WEB MATERIALS Eugene Cohn, Great Neck, and Frank Catallo, Elmont,

N.Y., assignors to Sarncoe Holding Corporation, Woodside, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 611,609 Int. Cl. D06c 3/06, 3/00 U.S. C]. 2663 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is related to the handling and treatment of knitted fabrics, especially in the open width form, by a series of adjustable length rollers, which support the fabric across its full width, WhilC distending it widthwise. The present invention enables difiicult-tohandle, open width knitted fabric to be processed in a controlled and expeditious manner such that, for example, the fabric may be resin impregnated, set to width, dried and cured in a single continuous pass through the processing line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Knitted fabric is particularly characterized by its geometric instability, in that it is readily distortable under tensions and other forces normally applied during fabric processing. In addition, the width and length dimensions of a knitted fabric are inherently interrelated, such that lengthwise tensions applied to the fabric during normal processing result not only in elongation of the fabric but in a corresponding narrowing of the fabric width. When the fabric is processed in open Width form, additional problems are presented, particularly with regard to stabilization of fabric geometry and to a tendency for the fabric edges to curl.

Heretofore, it has proven very difificult to process knitted fabric in open Width form, because of the inability to maintain control over the geometry of the fabric (i.e., its length and width dimensions, stitch or loop formation, cross line configuration, etc.). And, it has been more customary to process the knitted fabrics in tubular form and thereafter to slit and open the processed tube. However, processing prior to slitting and opening results in an edge crease in the center of the open width fabric, which is objectionable in the finished product (e.g., often a lamination with vinyl) and is very difficult to remove. Because the edge crease problem is obviated by processing of the fabric in open width form, there has been an increasing need for processing lines and equipment suitable to this purpose.

PRIOR ART Open width handling and processing has, of course, been practical for many years, in connection with woven goods, and it might appear that the equipment and techniques of Woven goods processing could be adapted to the processing of open width knit goods. However, be cause of fundamental differences in the structure of woven and knitted fabrics, that usually has not proven to be the case in practice, and it was not the case in the present instance. In the treatment of woven goods, it is conventional, at an appropriate stage, to apply widthwise tension to the fabric by means of a tenter frame, typically comprised of spaced, travelling chains with grippers for en- "ice gaging opposite edges of the fabric and advancing forward and slightly outward. Widthwise expansion of knitted fabric in this manner presents difiicult problems because of (among other things) inability to control fabric geometry between the fabric edges, difficulty in correlating length and width dimensions of the knitted fabric, and difiiculty in maintaining a straight cross line configuration.

The prior art also includes proposals, particularly for the widthwise distension of plastic webs, in which a series of rollers is arranged to support the plastic Web across its Width, but such arrangements lack suitability for unit goods processing, for a number of significant reasons.

The prior art, in addition to being lacking in the specific respects mentioned above, is meager and deficient in its teachings as to overall processing concepts for open width fabrics, and fails to deal with many of the important specific problems which characterize the processing of knitted fabric as distinguished from woven fabrics and other web materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one of the broad objectives of the invention, an overall processing line of new and improved capability is provided for handling and treating knitted fabric in the open width to provide a finished and treated open width fabric of controlled and predetermined fabric geometry, including dimensions, stitch formation, etc. The fabric thus processed may advantageously be either a flat knitted fabric or a tubular knitted fabric which has been slit and opened to flat form prior to processing in accordance with the invention. Most advantageously, the processing equipment and techniques of the invention, although intended primarily for the handling and treatment of open width fabric, is readily capable of handling and treating knitted fabrics in tubular form. This is a desirable facility, because many knitted fabric processors handle large amounts of knitted fabric in tubular form, and smaller processors often may not handle sufficient open width fabric to maintain a processing line in full production on open width materials alone.

In accordance with one of the more specific aspects of the invention, a novel and improved form of spreading equipment is provided for engaging the open width fabric at its edges and laterally distending the fabric to a predetermined, uniform width while maintaining control over fabric geometry. The new spreader comprises a plurality of fabric engaging, guiding, and supporting rollers, about which the fabric is sinuously trained, and includes means for engaging the open width fabric at its edge extremities and for guiding and advancing the fabric edges in divirgent relation to a predetermined final width. Because of the inherent geometric instability of the knitted fabric, the guide rolls extend across the full width of the fabric, to provide full width support, but grip the fabric only at the marginal edge extremities. The described arrangement, while providing support for the fabric across its full width, also leaves the fabric free to readjust its geometric configuration and its stitch formation as necessary to accommodate the increasing width of the fabric and its corresponding reduction in length.

One of the advantageous features of the new spreading apparatus resides in the provision of length-adjustable support rollers, which enable full width fabric support to be maintained While accommodating width adjustment and variation at the entry end of the spreader. As will be appreciated, means are provided at the entry end of the spreader for sensing the fabric edges and adjusting the spreader automatically inward and outward to follow the changing location of the fabric edges. This is necessary because of the fact that the fabric delivered to the entry end of the spreader will vary in its width dimensions from place to place, as a result of (for example) variations in lengthwise tension applied to the fabric during its previous processing.

The discharge end of the spreader is set at a prede termined final width at which it is desired to discharge the fabric, and this setting is not changed during normal operations. At the entry end, however, the fabric edges at each side are continuously sensed or detected and the spreader is continuously and automatically adjusted, widthwise, at its entry end to maintain a substantially constant relationship between the fabric edges and the spreader edges. The length-adjustable rollers provide for continuous entry-side adjustment of the spreader, while maintaining full-width support of the fabric.

In accordance with another of the more specific aspects of the invention, novel and improved facilities are provided for initially manipulating to fiat form and initially substantially aligning the flat, open width knitted fabric. The arrangement i such that the open width fabric, which is very delicate to handle and which may tend to curl badly at the edges, is drawn under control from a supply, substantially centered with respect to the principal axis of the processing line, and laid flat at the edges for proper threading into the downstream processing equipment. The new apparatus comprises novel air flow directing means located at the opposite margins of the fabric and operative to direct forcible streams of air laterally outward along the top and bottom surfaces of the fabric. The friction between the fabric and the laterally outwardly flowing air stream is sutficient to impart a very slight widthwise tension to the fabric, sufiicient to cause it to lie flat and wrinkle-free and to flatten and at least temporarily uncurl the edge extremities.

Sensitive edge position sensing means are provided in close coupled association with each of the above-described air nozzle assemblies to control the flow of air thereto in accordance with the position of the fabric edge. If the fabric tends to be drawn toward the righthand 'side of the line axis, the edge sensing control is operative to reduce the air flow velocity at the right side nozzle or nozzles and/or to increase the air flow velocity at the lefthand nozzle or nozzles, and vice versa. The arrangement is such that an unbalancing tendency of the fabric in a given lateral direction relative to the axis of the processing line causes an automatic correction in the effective air flow velocities to maintain the fabric in a centered relationship.

The air-actuated manipulating and guiding means is particularly advantageous in connection with the handling and treatment of open width knitted fabric, because of the general difiiculties of handling such fabric and initially placing it in fiat, wrinkle-free form without distorting or distending it in some undesirable manner. By acting on the fabric margins by outwardly flowing air stream only, it is possible to avoid all mechanical contact with the fabric and thus to avoid mechanically distorting the fabric or acting upon it with greater force tha desired at the particular stage of the processing sequence.

While the air guide arrangement is especially suited for the guidance of open width knitted fabric in the overall processing line described herein, it Will be appreciated that the inventive principles thereof will have widespread applicability in other environments and with other web material.

Other advantageous aspects of the invention include the provision of strategically positioned spot uncurling devices to cope effectively with the inherent tendency of the open width knitted fabric to curl at the edges. The spot uncurlers are novel, air devices which act on the fabric locally, immediately in advance of a processing nip or other point in the processing line where curl-free fabric is required, and are effective to deliver curl-free fabric without requiring it to be mechanically manipulated.

For a better understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fabric handling and processing line incorporating various features of the invention.

FIG. 2 i a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional and plan views, respectively, of certain advantageous fabric guiding and handling facilities incorporated in the processing line of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a novel and advantageous form of spreader apparatus incorporated in the processing line of FIG. 1 and adapted to engage open width knitted fabric at its edges and to distend the fabric laterally to a predetermined, uniform width.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10 -12 are fragmentary, cross-sectional views taken generally along lines 10l0, 1111, and 1 12, respectively, of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are enlarged, fragmentary plan and elevational views, respectively, of an advantageous form of fabric edge sensing means incorporated in the apparatus of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are enlarged, cross-sectional views,

in elevation and plan, respectively, of a modified form of fabric edge sensing facility which may alternatively be incorporated in the apparatus of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS- OF INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 designates a supply container for web material to be processed in accordance with the invention. The web material 11 most advantageously is an open width knitted fabric and will be assumed to be such in the remainder of this description. However, it will be understood that at least certain aspects of the present invention may be applicable to other web materials, including tubular knitted fabrics, as will appear.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the open width knitted fabric web 11 advantageously is guided upwardly out of the supply container 10, through a first stage fabric handling and guiding system 12 (if necessary), and over and about an idler roll 13. The guiding and handling system 12, to be described in detail, functions to manipulate the fabric web to a substantially flat form and serves to at least approximately center the fabric web relative to the principal longitudinal axis of the processing line.

After passing over the guide roller 13, the generally flat web of open Width fabric travels downward to and around a flattening roll 14 and then through a second stage fabric handling and guiding system 15 which is generally similar to the first stage handling and guiding system 12 located directly above the supply container. The handling and guiding system 15 acts upon the fabric in a manner to present it in substantially flat, wrinkle-free form and also substantially centers the fabric along the axis of the processing line.

As will be understood, the fabric handling and guiding systems 12 and 15 perform similar functions and, in

many circumstances, it might be feasible to eliminate the first system 12. However, for maximum reliability and accuracy of alignment, it often is advantageous to provide a pair of spaced handling and guiding systems, the first being located in a manner to act upon the fabric as received from the supply container, and the second positioned to act upon the fabric immediately prior to its entry into the principal processing apparatus.

In the processing line illustrated in FIG. 1, the spreadflat open width knitted fabric is advantageously directed through a padding processor, generally designated by the numeral 16, the fabric having been de-curled immediately in advance thereof, as will be described. The padding processor may typically consist of three processing rollers 17-19, arranged to form a reservoir 20 for processing liquid, a first nip 21 for extracting the fabric (if necessary) and a processing nip 22 for padding the processing liquid. The reservoir 20 may be supplied with a suitable processing solution, such as a permanent press resin, with 'which the fabric is uniformly impregnated as it passes through the nip 22. Structurally, the processing pad 16 may be generally similar to the apparatus described in the S. Cohn et al. US. Patent No. 3,207,616 and in the E. Cohn et al. US. Patent No. 3,261,184, it being understood that the equipment is, in its most advantageous form for the purposes of the present invention, adapted to accommodate and process open width knitted fabric.

The resin impregnated fabric discharged from the exit side nip 22 of the processing pad 16 is guided upward and about a speed controlled roller 24 and thence sinuously about a plurality of support rollers of a distending or spreading apparatus generally designated by the numeral 26 which serves to laterally distend the impregnated fabric to a predetermined, uniform width in accordance with principles hereafter to be described in detail.

After latenal distention to a predetermined width, the fabric, now designated by the numeral 27, is discharged over a control roller 28 and guided about an input speed roller 29 for a fabric drying and/or curing apparatus generally designated by the numeral 30. Most iadvantageously, the fabric drying and curing installation may be constructed in accordance with the S. Cohen et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,102,006 and/or the S. Cohen et al. US. Patent No. 3,065,551.

In accordance with broader aspects of the invention, the fabric 11, in its as received condition from the supply container 10, is drawn vertically upward through the handling and guiding device 12 (it being understood, however, that the device 12 may be omitted in many cases, where adequate guidance is provided by the device 15). The device 12, as will be described in more detail, serves to direct controllable air streams laterally outward over the marginal edge portions (at least) of the fabric at opposite sides. The frictional effects of the air flowing laterally outward over the fabric surfaces tend to impart a very slight widtl'rwise tension to the fabric, to an extent sufficient to cause the fabric to assume a generally flat, wrinkle-free form, and also to tend to remove any curl which may tend to appear at the edge extremities of the fabric, particularly in the case of fabric which has been knitted in tubular form and subsequently slit and laid open to flat, open width form. The fabric handling and guiding system 12 also includes means for sensing the locations of the edge extremities of the fiattened fabric and for regulating the effective force and velocity of the air streams in accordance therewith, such that the flattened fabric web tends automatically to be centered with respect to the principal axis of the processing line.

The fabric handling and guiding system 15 functions similarly to the system 12 but serves to center the flattened fabric more accurately, by reason of the fact that the incoming fabric is already approximately centered by 6 the action of the handling and guiding system 12, and the fabric is again flattened and decurled in preparation for its entry into the processing system.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fabric handling system 12 is shown to comprise a pair of spaced air nozzle units 31, 32, which may be of generally corresponding construction, taking into account that the separate units face in opposite directions. Each of the air nozzle units consists essentially of a flow nozzle 33, an air blower 34, and a motor 35 for driving the blower. The opposed nozzle units 31, 32 are mounted on suitable brackets 36 (FIG. 3) for transverse sliding movement on a horizontally disposed traverse bar 37, the latter being suitably secured by clamp brackets 38 to frame uprights 39. Threaded shafts 40, 41, typically controlled by means of hand wheels 42, 43, are provided to enable the respective air nozzle units 31, 32 to be independently adjusted inward and outward of the axis of the processing line to accommodate fabrics of various initial widths. Normally, the air nozzle units will be initially adjusted in symmetrical relation to the line axis, as will be understood.

The second stage handling and guiding system 15 likewise consists of an opposed pair of air nozzle units 44, each consisting of a flow nozzle 45, blower 46, and blower motor 47, all generally similar in construction to the corresponding units of the first stage handling system 12. The nozzle units of the second stage system 15 are suitably supported by slide brackets 48 on a frame stand 49, for controlled inward and outward adjustment by means of threaded shafts 50.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-5, the respective air flow nozzles are shown to comprise a pair of discharge elements 51, 52 arranged in spaced relation to extend inwardly over the fabric edge margins, in straddling relation to the fabric web. The separate discharge elements join to form a common inlet chamber 53, which is in direct communication with, and advantageously may be structurally supported by, the discharge outlet 54 of the blower. Each of the discharge elements includes an outside wall 55 which extends inward toward the center of the Web from the inlet chamber 53, curves through a arc to form an inner end wall 56, and then extends outward at 5-7 a short distance generally parallel to but spaced slightly from the intended plane of the fabric Web 11. The discharge elements also include inside walls 58 Which converge and join at the inlet chamber 53 and extend inward, toward the axis of the web, to terminal points beyond the terminal ends of the outer wall sections 57 but short of the end walls 56. Suitable side walls 59, 60 substantially close in the discharge elements, so that each element defines an air discharge outlet arranged for directing a controlled low pressure stream of air at suitable, relatively low velocity in an outward transverse direction, over the surface of the fabric. As is evident in FIGS. 3-5, the opposed discharge elements of each flow nozzle unit are so spaced and arranged that the discharged air streams are confined rather closely to the fabric surfaces over a substantial portion of the length of the nozzles so that an effective frictional force is applied to the fabric edge margins.

It will be understood, of course, that the specific nozzle structure herein illustrated is merely representative of many possible variations, the significant consideration being that air streams are controllably directed over opposed surfaces of the fabric margins, in a generally outward direction. This will cause the fabric to more or less float in the opposed air streams of a nozzle unit, and a pair of such nozzle units, operating in conjunction, function in a unique manner to literally float the fabric and simultaneously apply a slight Widthwise tension thereto at the edge margins, suificient to manipulate the fabric into a fiat, wrinkle-free, full-Width form. The fabric is handled in this most desirable manner without mechanically gripping or otherwise physically contacting the fabric and therefore without running the concurrent risk of distorting or marring the fabric. Of particular importance, the transversely outward flow of low velocity air over the fabric edge margins serves as a wholly effective and advantageous manner to decurl the edge extremities of the fabric, so that the fabric may subsequently be processed in its fully extended open width form, free of edge folds or creases resulting from mechanically engaging the fabric without fully decurling. Of course, it will be understood that, particularly with respect to fabrics knitted in tubular form and subsequently slit and opened to full width, the tendency for the edges to curl may be strong and recurrent, and spot decurling may be required at several stages of the processing operation.

As a feature of the invention, control means are provided in conjunction with the respective air nozzle units, or at least one of them, effective to sense the location of the fabric edge extremities and to control the air nozzle effectiveness in accordance therewith in a manner to compensate for any tendency of the fabric to shift off of the centerline of the equipment line. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a simplified and advantageous form of edge sensing control for the second stage fabric handling system 15, which may comprise a suitable mercury switch assembly 61 which is mounted on the nozzle unit and includes a mercury contact bulb 62 carried by a pivot shaft 63 which is journalled for free rotational movement through an arc suflicient to make and break the switch contacts of the mercury bulb 62. In the specific arrangement shown herein, the shaft 63 extends over the upper one of a pair of discharge elements and carries a plurality of downwardly extending edge sensing fingers 64. The unbalanced weight of the sensing fingers causes them to extend straight downward, normally, but permits them to be effortlessly displaced outwardly by the fabric edge 65 (FIG. 4) should it tend to shift too far toward the outside. During operation, if the fabric should shift off the centerline, i.e., to the right in FIG. 4, sensing elements 64 will be rotatably displaced in a counterclockwise direction, causing a gravitational shift of the mercury in mercury bulb 62. The switch contacts are thereby broken, shutting off the blower motor. The consequent absence of the air flow indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4 eliminates a force tending to move the fabric to the right and consequently results in the fabric recentering itself by moving to the left.

Typically, a simplified form of fabric handling and guiding system according to the invention includes a sensing switch mechanism at each side, associated with a blower motor and arranged to control the speed of the motor in response to positions of the sensing switch. Typically, the sensing elements are spaced slightly wider than the fully opened width of the fabric, in a flat, wrinkleand curl-free condition, so that a slight tolerance for widthwise variations is accommodated. However, if the fabric web wanders beyond the tolerated limits from its intended course, one of the mercury sensing switches is actuated to bring about a relative change in the effectiveness of the opposed air nozzle units in a manner to return the fabric web to its desired course. In its most simplified form, the sensing control may be operative to simply de-energize, or energize the blower motor on the side of the actuated switch. However, where desired or expedient, more complex and sophisticated control combinations may be employed, including means for proportioning the corrective response to the magnitude of deviation from course, all as will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The edge sensing control arrangements, shown in FIG. 3, for the first stage fabric handling and guiding system are similar to those just described, as regards principles of operation, but are mechanically slightly different to accommodate the fact that the fabric travels vertically through the first stage handling system and horizontally through the second stage handling system. Thus, in the arrangement of FIG. 3, a mercury switch 66 is mounted on the nozzle wall 55 and has its switch bulb (not shown) carried by a horizontal pivot shaft 67. A swing arm 68 depends from the shaft 67 and carries a plurality of edge sensing fingers 69 which extend horizontally through the plane of the fabric web as shown in FIG. 3, the whole system being suitably counterbalanced for relatively effortless displacement of the sensing fingers 69 by an edge of a fabric web which wanders laterally from its desired course.

In the illustrated processing system, fabric aligned and flattened by means of the described first and second stage handling systems 12, 15 is directed through the processing pad 16 for impregnation by a resin solution or other processing liquid. In order to achieve superior results in the impregnation processing, however, it is necessary to present the fabric to the processing pad in a proper condition. This is brought about by manipulating the fabric to a uniformly flat, wrinkleand curl-free condition, slightly taut in all directions, and presenting the fabric, while controlled in such a condition, into contact with the first processing roller 17. Once in contact with the first processing roller, the fabric geometry is substantially maintained by continuing the fabric in contact with at least one of the processing rollers until the impregnation treatment has been completed. As reflected in FIG. 1, the geometrically conditioned fabric initially presented into contact with the first processing roller 17 is carried thereby through the nip 21 and is there transferred into full contact with the lower tnd second processing roller 18 forming the bottom surface of the treating solution reservoir. The fabric is then conveyed in contact with the processing solution by the second roller 18, while being geometrically stabilized by contact therewith. The liquid laden fabric then passes through the processing nip 22, where the content of treating solution is reduced to a desired uniform level and thoroughly impressed into the yarns and fibers of the fabric, and the fabric may then be transferred onto the surface of the third processing roller 19 for further conveyance toward a subsequent processing stage.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fabric advantageously is directed through a plurality of manipulating steps, subsequent to the second air guide stage 15, in order to assure presentation of the fabric to the processing pad in a flat, wrinkleand curl-free condition. To this end, the fabric 11 being advanced from the second handling stage 15 is passed over and under flattening bars 70, 71, respectively, which extend across the full width of the equipment and are so positioned relative to the path of travel of the fabric as to lightly engage the bottom and top surfaces of the fabric, applying a very light tension thereto.

After passing through the flattening bars 70, 71, the fabric is directed upwardly over a series of air jet tubes 72-74, aptly described as whistle jets because of their appearance, which are adjustably disposed at each side of the equipment in cooperative relation to the opposite edge margins of the fabric. A suitable guide plate 75 extends in the plane of the air jet tubes, arranged so that the fabric is guided over the tops of the tubes. As shown in FIG. 7, the air jet tubes 72-74 are provided with air outlet openings arranged to direct relatively high velocity confined streams of air transversely outward toward the edge extremities of the fabric. The illustrated arrangement contemplates that the fabric presented to the jet tubes 72-74 will be so oriented that its tendency to curl is toward the bottom. Accordingly, the jet tubes are arranged to direct high velocity air streams transversely outward along the bottom surface of the fabric to remove any curl which tends to form.

Adjcent the discharge side of the decurling jets 7274 there is a pair of bars 76, 77 extending across the full width of the equipment and primarily intended for the support of a belt propeller (not shown, but typically of the type shown in the S. Cohn, et al. U.S. Patent No.

2,589,344 and US. Patent No. 3,207,616) for use in the processing of knitted fabrics in tubular form. The upper bar 76 may be so related to the path of travel of the fabric as to cause the fabric to pass over the top of the bar, applying a slight tension to the fabric to maintain it in fiat condition.

As will be observed particularly in FIG. 6, the fabric travel plane defined by the flattening bars 71, 76 on opposite sides of the decurling jet stage is such as to cause the fabric to be guided directly over the decurling jets in relatively close contact so as to optimize the effectiveness of the jets.

After passing through the bar 76, the fabric may be directed over a herringbone smoothing bar 78, while being maintained under a very slight lengthwise tension. The herringbone smoothing bar, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, has an upper surface 79 of arcuate cross-sectional configuration, so that the fabric may be drawn smoothly over it, and is provided with a plurality of closely spaced grooves 80, 81 disposed at a divergent angle with respect to the axis of the processing line and the direction of fabric travel. Thus, the grooves 80 on the right side of the line axis extend forwardly and to the right, while the grooves 81 on the left side of the axis extend forward and to the left. The arrangement is such that fabric being drawn over the bar 78 is lightly urged transversely outward from the line axis toward the edges of the fabric, to mechanically urge the fabric toward a flat, smooth condition at its full open width dimensions.

Shortly before passing over the herringbone bar, the fabric may be steamed to make it more receptive to processing in the padder and also to reduce the friction of the fabric on the bar. To this end, a suitable steam box 82, provided with steam outlet openings 83, may be mounted slightly above and on the incoming side of the herringbone bar.

As shown best in FIG. 6, the herringbone bar 78 advantageously is disposed immediately in advance of the first roll 17 of the processing pad, in such relation thereto that the mechanically smoothed fabric is transferred substantially directly from the herringbone bar to the processing roll. In this way, the fabric tends to be applied to the stabilizing surface of the processing roller without substantial change in the fabric geometry from its spread condition. Even so, it is particularly advantageous in the handling and treatment of open width knitted fabric, and especially tubular knitted fabric which has been slit and converted to open width form, to provide a pair of whistle jet tubes 84, 85 at each side edge of the fabric web and as close as physically practicable to the surface of the processing roller 17 for spot decurling at the last instant. The air jet tubes 84, 85 are disposed below the fabric surface, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing. With this arrangement, the fabric is decurled at the last instant before transfer of the fabric to the surface of the processing roller, so that the fabric engages the roller surface in a relatively optimum geometrical condition. In some cases, it may be possible to rely upon the spot decurling action of the whistle jets 84, 85 alone, and eliminate one or both of the smoothing bar 78 and guide bar 76.

After liquid impregnation, the fabric advantageously is laterally distended to a predetermined, uniform width, and then dried and cured. As a particularly significant feature of the invention, a novel and improved form of fabric distending apparatus is provided, which is arranged to engage the open width fabric by its edge extremities and then direct the fabric edges forwardly and divergently outward. While laterally distending the fabric, the apparatus of the invention provides for continuous and uninterrupted control of the fabric edges, and substantially continuous support and guidance of the intermediate areas of the fabric.

As shown best in FIGS. 8-11, the new spreading apparatus of the invention comprises a large plurality of guiding and supporting rollers journalled and supported at their opposite ends by a pair of journal frames 101, 102. The journal frames 101, 102 are supported at their rearward ends for pivoting movement about pivot pins 103, and for movement toward and away from the axis of the processing line by means of slides 104 which carry the pivot pins 103 and are adjustably movable transversely on guide rods 105. By means of a suitable threaded shaft 106, operated by hand wheels 107 accessible from either side of the equipment, the slides 104, and therefore the rearward ends of the journal frames 101, 102, may be adjusted inward and outward.

The forward ends of the journal frames are provided with bearing bosses 108 which are supported on a transversely disposed slide bar 109 forming part of the fixed frame structure 110 of the distending apparatus. For controlled inward and outward adjustment of the forward or entry ends of the journal frames 101, 102, each is independently connected, as by a pin 111, 112 to a nut 113, 114 engaged with a threaded adjusting shaft 115, 116. The adjusting shafts are supported for rotation by side members 117 of the machine frame and are arranged to be controllably rotated by motors 118, 119. As will be described in more detail, the adjusting motors 118, 119 are reversibly controllable in accordance with the instantaneous positions of the opposed fabric edges, such that the input ends of the journal frames 101, 102 are automatically and continuously maintained in a predetermined alignment with and in straddling relation to the incoming fabric web.

In accordance with the invention and as indicated in FIG. 12 in particular, each of the guide roll assemblies 100 comprises a pair of telescopically interfitted support roller sections 120, 121, which are slidably adjustable, one over the other, over a range of roll widths from the narrowest incoming fabric to be accommodated to the widest fabric to be discharged after lateral distension. Only one end of the roller assembly is illustrated in FIG. 12, but it will be understood that the assemblies will be substantially identical at opposite ends, taking into account the slightly larger diameter of the outer telescoping roller section 121.

As shown in FIG. 12, the end of the roller section 120 is received over and pinned or otherwise secured to an end cap member 122. The end cap 122 has a projecting circular flange 123, which, internally, forms a cylindrical recess 124 for the reception of a universal joint 125, and, externally, is arranged to project into a cylindrical recess 126 of a gripping roller section 127. The universal 125, which is typically provided with a flexible cover a, has one end 128 secured to the telescoping roller section 120 by means of a pin 129 used to secure the roller section to its end cap 122. The other end 130 of the universal is secured by a pin 131 to a collar 132, which is carried by a shaft 133 journalled in the journal frame 101, the collar being secured to the shaft by means such as a set screw 134. Advantageously, the axial gap between the end cap 122 and the body of the gripping roller section 127 is no larger than necessary to accommodate the maximum angular disposition of one roller section relative to the other during any contemplated operating arrangement of the apparatus.

In accordance with one specific aspect of the invention, the fabric web, during its passage through the distending apparatus, is supported over its full width by, but free to slide upon, the telescopically adjustable roller sections 120, 121, and these sections therefore are advantageously provided with relatively smooth surfaces. The edge extremities of the fabric, on the other hand, are to be firmly gripped and engaged by the gripping roller sections 127. To this end, each of the gripping roller bodies 127 is provided with a surface covering of a material, such as a strip of card clothing 135, arranged to have its multiplicity of carding wires projecting generally radially outward for continuous, effectively positive gripping of the edges of a web of knitted fabric over the entire extent of contact between the fabric and the roller. In the illustrated arrangement, a suitable length 135 of card clothing is wrapped circumferentially about the body of the gripping roller section 127, and the substantially abutted ends of the clothing section 135 are clamped by means of a plate 136 and screws 137. The axial length of the gripping section is very small in relation to the width capacity of the equipment, and typically may be about two inches or perhaps even less in an equipment able to handle fabric up to eighty-five or ninety-six inches in width.

The illustrated fabric distending apparatus includes a relatively large plurality (e.g., fifteen) of support roller assemblies 100 journalled in side-by-side arrangement but with alternate rollers being disposed in offset planes to define a sinuous path for the fabric to follow in travelling through the series of rollers. Advantageously, the adjacent roller assemblies are journalled sufliciently closely that the fabric edges, gripped by the card clothing surface coverings of the gripping roller sections 127, may be transferred substantially directly from one gripping roller section to another while maintaining substantially continuous control of the fabric. At the same time, sufficient clearance must be maintained between adjacent roller assemblies to accommodate a certain amount of closing together of the rollers when the journal frames 101, 102 are pivoted to a wide angle of divergence.

In the equipment shown in FIG. 11, alternate roller assemblies are journalled in planes offset about one-half roller diameter, and rollers are arranged for driven rotation in a direction to cause the fabric to travel over the minor arc of each roller assembly (i.e., less than 180). To this end, each of the roller assemblies is driven at each end by means of a synchronizing assembly comprising a chain 140 driven counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 11) and trained over sprockets 141 fixed to the end shafts of the various roller assemblies 100. The chain 140 is maintained suitably tight by means of an adjustable idler 142.

Power input to the roller assemblies advantageously is imparted at the forwardmost roller assembly 100a, illustrated in FIG. 10. The roller assembly 100a has a shaft connection on the outer side of the journal frame 101 to a universal joint 143 aligned with the vertical axis of the pivot pins 103, and the universal is in turn connected to a sprocket 144. The sprocket 144 is connected through a chain 145 to a sprocket 146 fixed to a transverse power shaft 147 providing power input at both sides of the distending apparatus. The shaft 147 is connected through sprocket 148, chain 149, and sprocket 150 (FIG. 9) to a transverse power shaft 151 driven from a chain 152 from a main power source.

To particular advantage, provision is made in accordance with the invention for progressive reduction in the surface speed of the successive support rollers to accommodate the progressive reduction in fabric length consequent to its progressive widthwise distension. In the illustrated apparatus, this may be brought about by a judicious combining of sprocket sizes and roller diameter for each roller assembly.

In a similar manner, at the discharge end of the spreader 26 there is provided a driven roller 28 provided with a felt or rubber gripping surface which serves to strip the distended fabric 27 properly off the last guide roller assembly 100a and to feed it to the dryer input roller 29. The roller 28 is driven from the support roller drive, through a belt 156 and, if desired, a variable speed pulley, and is desirably synchronous with the discharge of the spreader and arranged to slightly overfeed the dryer.

As will be observed particularly in FIG. 9, when the journal frames 101, 102 are disposed at a divergent angle, to effect lateral distension of fabric advancing sinuously over the support rollers, the gripping roller sections 127, 135 at the end extremities of the roller assemblies are disposed at right angles to the journal frames but the telescoping roller sections 120, 121 remain disposed at right angles to the main axis of the processing line. By setting the effective width of the initial support roller assembly to correspond with the width of the incoming fabric, and setting the effective width of the last guide roller assembly at the desired final width, the fabric edges will be gripped by the initial roller and advanced from one roller to another by transference of the fabric edges from one gripping roller section to another without loss of control. The intermediate portions of the fabric, being supported but not gripped by the telescoping sections of the roller assemblies, are permitted to expand and adjust geometrically as required to accommodate the increasing width dimension.

The operating speed of the distending apparatus must be variable with respect to the previous equipment, ineluding the processing padder 16, and with respect to the subsequent equipment, including the dryer 30, in order to accommodate changes in fabric geometry which are intentionally introduced or are otherwise provided for. To this end, the power drives for the various pieces of equipment may be derived from a single drive motor (not shown). One of the pieces of equipment, typically the padder apparatus 16, may be driven directly from the motor, which advantageously is subject to speed control, and is thus automatically operated at machine speed. The other items may be driven through variable speed control mechanisms of suitable types so that appropriate relative speed variation may be introduced to the overall processing system as desired or expedient.

Most advantageously, it is desirable to overfeed the fabric somewhat from the padder 16 to the spreader 26 and to overfeed somewhat, again, from the spreader 26 to the dryer 30. To this end, the roller 24, adjacent the entry end of the spreader, is driven at a speed to correspond with the output of the padder 16 and to overfeed slightly onto the first roller assembly of the spreader. The roller 24 has good friction contact with the fabric and serves to draw the fabric vertically upward from the discharge side of the processing padder 16 and to discharge it toward the first guide roller in the manner desired.

Most advantageously, a slight space is maintained between adjacent supporting rollers, under normal conditions. This space need be sufiicient merely to accommodate free transfer of the fabric from one roller assembly to another and also to accommodate the fact that adjacent rollers may have slightly different surface needs. Especially where the gripping sections of the roller assemblies are formed of strips of card clothing, as in the illustrated arrangement, it is desirable to provide for release of the fabric by one roller an instant before engagement by the next roller, so that the fabric is not simultaneously engaged by two elements of card clothing moving at different speeds.

In the illustrated spreading apparatus provision is made for accommodation of the fact that the incoming fabric may vary from place to place in its incoming width di mensrons and may wander from side to side somewhat. As will be understood, variations in the width dimensions of the incoming fabric or wandering of the fabric web normally would result in the fabric assuming varying 1n1t1al amounts of overlap on the gripping roller sections. As a result, incoming fabric which was narrower than normal would inherently result in the discharge of distended fabric which was narrower than desired, and vice versa. Thus, provision is made for enabling the intake end of the distending apparatus to expand and contract and adjust, to follow the changing contours and dimensions of the incoming fabric, without changing the width setting of the discharge end of the equipment. The arrangement is such that if the incoming fabric becomes narrower than nominal, for example, the intake end of the distending apparatus will automatically narrow down correspondingly to maintain a substantially constant amount of fabric overlap on the gripping sections and adjust the angle of divergence of the journal frames as necessary to bring about the increased amount of distension required.

The construction of the supporting roller assemblies 100, in conjunction with the edge following ability of the spreader apparatus, is a particularly significant feature of the invention. While the gripping sections 127 are at all times adjustably movable with the spreader frame and have their axes constantly at right angles to the fabric edges, the intermediate supporting sections 120, 121

-remain disposed along transverse axes and extend and contract lengthwise, to maintain the fabric fully supported over its width and under effectively continuous geometric control. This enables the cross lines of the fabric to be kept straight and free of distortion, a consideration of special significance to the end product. As will be understood, the extendable and contractible supporting sections 120, 121 of the roller assemblies engage the fabric over virtually its entire width, except for perhaps an inch or so at the edge extremities, so that highly uniform and effective control over the fabric geometry is possible.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 13, and 14, each of the journal frames is provided at its entry end with a fabric edge sensing assembly 160, 161, which may be substantially identical at each side. The unit 161, shown in detail in FIGS. 13, 14, may comprise (for example) a pair of closely spaced, vertically oriented light sources 162, 163 and a corresponding pair of photocell receptors 164, 165 aligned therewith. The light sources and photocell receptors may he relatively closely spaced (e.g., about one-half inch separation), to provide for a reasonably small maximum edge variation tolerance. But advantageously, the light and receptor pairs are mounted in rotatably adjustable platforms 166, 167, to enable the tolerance to be varied from the maximum to any smaller tolerance by appropriate rotational orientation of the pairs.

In conjunction with each of the pairs of edge sensing elements there is provided a whistle jet tube 168 arranged to direct a decurling stream of air transversely outward, to make certain that the fabric is in its fully flat condition and free of curl at the instant of edge sensing. As shown best in FIG. 14, the whistle jet tube 168 comprises an air tube 169 closed at one end by a cap 170 and having an air inlet opening at the other end. Near the capped end, there is provided a notched air discharge opening 171 (also see FIG. 7) in the form of an inclined notch, which typically is straight, across the outer or capped end, and tapers out to the air tube wall at the inner end. Received within the air tube and spanning the opening 171 is a plug 172 provided with an axial air passage 173 and a partial recess 174 disposed along one side, opposite the opening 171, and inclined to correspond generally with the outlines of the opening. The plug and recess extend inward, well beyond the discharge opening, as shown. The arrangement is such that air entering from the inlet end of the tube 169 is required to flow through the plug passage 173 and then reverse direction. The reversely flowing air travels through the recess 174, along a portion of the inner wall of the air tube 169, and is discharged at relatively high velocity out of the whistle opening 171. The advantageous flow pattern of the air is such that it is confined along the outside wall of the tube 169 and directed generally back toward the air inlet end. The whistle jet is a very simplified, yet highly effective arrangement, suitable for mounting outside the fabric edges, for effecting decurling of the fabric edges. Because of the compact configuration of the jets, they may be located extremely close to critical processing points, for spot decurling at the last instant prior to processing.

Each of the pairs of sensing elements is connected through appropriate electrical control facilities (not shown but conventional to the electrical control arts) to the respective adjusting motors 118, 119, such that these motors independently respond to a fabric edge wandering 14 inside or outside of the tolerated limits to rotate the screw shafts and/or 116 as may be required to relocate the sensors properly over the fabric edge. Suitable limit switch means (not shown) are desirably provided to limit the extent of adjustment movement in response to the edge sensors.

A slightly modified form of edge sensing facility is illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, wherein the pairs of light sources and photocell receptors 176 are disposed at an angle to the plane of the incoming fabric web, such as to bring the line of edge sensing in as close as practicable to the first gripping roller section 127. Decurling jets 177, 178, disposed above and below the fabric substantially at the point of sensing, are also close enough to the first gripper roll section to serve eflfectively to maintain the fabric decurled and flattened until it advances onto the gripping roller section and is gripped thereby.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION In typical operations of the system, open width fabric 11 is drawn from its supply container and directed optionally through a preliminary air guide system 12. In the air guide system 12, which is provided and used if the fabric needs substantial initial orientation, controllable air flows are directed outward over at least the edge margin area of the fabric, along both surfaces. This causes the fabric to be smoothed and flattened and, by controlling the relative air flows at opposite sides in accordance with the position of the fabric, to be aligned with the processing apparatus.

The preliminarily aligned fabric is then directed to the principal air guide system 15, which functions, like the guide system 12, to smooth, flatten and center the fabric Web. Of particular significance, the initial gross handling of the Web by the air guide system 15 and/or 12 is performed without physical contact with the fabric, which greatly reduces the possibility of marking or distorting the fabric in undesirable ways.

After discharge from the air guide system 15, the fabric is directed optionally over flattening bars and a herringbone smoothing bar 78, to further smooth the fabric, and it is also steamed to make it more receptive to processing. Then the fabric is directed into a processing pad 16 for liquid impregnation.

Immediately prior to engaging the first roll of the pad 16, the fabric is spot decurled by small whistle jet decurlers located immediately adjacent the pad. Decurling at this point is particularly significant because of the strong tendency of the knitted open width fabric to curl at the edges, especially where the fabric is derived from the slitting and opening of tubular knitted fabric. After liquid impregnation in the pad, the curl tendency is considerably reduced although still present.

After padding, the fabric is overfed from the pad and a synchronized control roller 24 to the spreading stage 26. In the spreading stage, the fabric edge extremities are engaged by divergently directed gripping rollers and conveyed thereby through a serpentine path in a generally forward and outward direction to effect desired lateral distension. Provision is made for the gripping rollers to continuously follow the fabric edges and, in conjunction therewith, adjustable support rollers are provided to extend entirely across the fabric width, between cooperating pairs of gripping rollers. The open width fabric is thus fully supported and geometrically controlled and stabilized during the spreading operation, which represents one of the more significant aspects of the invention.

Most advantageously, the fabric being transferred to successive roller assemblies in the course of its passage through the spreader is slightly o-verfed from one roller to the next, to accommodate length reduction in the fabric which accompanies its widthwise distension. This may be accomplished by operating successive rollers at progressively lower surface speeds.

Distended fabric discharged from the spreader stage is overfed from a synchronized spreader roll to the drying stage for appropriate drying and/or curing of the processing liquid.

Particularly for the benefit of smaller processors, the system of the invention is adapted to handle tubular knitted fabric, as well as open width. Typically tubular knitted fabric is distended widthwise prior to padding, rather than subsequent thereto, and, for this purpose, a spreading propeller S (FIG. 1) of the type shown in the S. Cohn et al. US Patent No. 2,589,344 is mounted immediately in front of the padder, in accordance with the teachings of the S. Cohn et al. US. Patent No. 3,207,616. The padded tubular fabric bypasses the open width spreader 26 and is directed generally along the path T (FIG. 1) to the dryer.

As will be apparent, the new system in addition to having important features of versatility, is able to process and deliver open width knitted fabric at predetermined width and controlled and stabilized fabric geometry, free of crease marks and the like. This singular ability represents a significant step forward in the art of processing knitted fabric in open width form.

In addition to the overall processing abilities of the system, individual components thereof have significant novelty, including the air guide system, the full support spreader, and the whistle jet decurlers. As will be understood, the individual components of the invention may be utilized by themselves or in combination with other described features. By way of example only and not of limitation, the air actuated fabric handling and guiding systems 12, 15, While particularly effective when used in combination with the illustrated processing line, including in particular the distending stage 26, may be used to advantage in a wide variety of applications and in connection with a wide variety of web materials. It is also contemplated that the distending equipment, which is particularly suited to the special problems of handling open width fabric, might usefully be applied to a wide variety of handling and manipulating problems involving such materials but not necessarily involving a significant amount of lateral distension.

Accordingly, in order to ascertain the limits of applicability of the various inventive features illustrated and described herein, reference should be made to the following appended claims which set forth the full intended scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Means for distending or otherwise handling web materials, such as open width knitted fabric and the like, comprising (a) a pair of spaced journal frames,

(b) a plurality of length-extendable supporting roller assemblies supported in said journal frames in sideby-side relation and forming a sinuous path for the web material,

() gripping means at the edge extremities only of said supporting rollers for engaging and gripping edge extremities of the web material,

(d) said gripping means being journalled in fixed right angular relationship to said journal frames, and

(e) means for effecting independent inward an outward adjustment of the material discharge and the material entry end of said journal frames.

2. The distending means of claim 1, further characterized by (a) means being provided for driving successive supporting roller assemblies at progressively reduced surface speeds, to accommodate fabric shortening accompanying widthwise distension.

3. The distending means of claim 1, wherein (a) said supporting roller assemblies include lengthextendable intermediate roller sections connected at each end to said gripping means by universal joints.

4. Apparatus for distending web materials such as open width knitted fabric or the like, comprising (a) a pair of diverging non-parallel journal frames,

(b) a plurality of supporting roller assemblies sup ported at their opposite ends in said journal frames and forming a sinuous path for said web material,

(0) said roller assemblies extending transversely of the axis of fabric travel and arranged to support the fabric across its width,

(d) said roller assemblies including a short web gripping section at each end for engaging and gripping edge extremities of the web material and advancing the web material edges divergently to a predetermined uniform width,

(e) each of said short web gripping sections being perpendicular to and permanently journalled in a journal frame,

(f) said roller assemblies including telescopically interfitting length-extendable central fabric supporting sections having a smooth, non-web gripping surface relative to said web gripping sections, thereby permitting geometric readjustment of the fabric during widthwise distension,

(g) said journal frames being mounted for pivoting movement at points adjacent the last effective roller assembly at the discharge side of the distending apparatus, and

(h) means for pivoting the entry side ends of said journal frames inwardly and outwardly to follow the fabric edges.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein (a) said telescopically interfitting length-extendable sections are connected to said short web gripping sections by universal joints.

6. Means for distending or otherwise handling web materials, such as open width knitted fabric and the like, comprising (a) a pair of spaced journal frames,

(b) a plurality of length-extendable supporting roller assemblies supported in said journal frames in sideby-side relation and forming a sinuous path for the web material,

(c) said length-extendable sections including telescopically interfitting central portions having a cylindrical configuration,

(d) gripping means at the edge extremities only of said supporting rollers for engaging and gripping edge extremities of the web material,

(e) means for effecting independent inward and outward adjustment of the material discharge and the material entry ends of said journal frames, and

(f) means for driving successive supporting roller assemblies at progressively reduced surface speeds, to accommodate fabric shortening accompanying widthwise distension.

7. The distending means of claim 6, wherein (a) said gripping means includes a short web gripping section at each end of said roller assemblies, and

(b) said short web gripping sections are journalled in fixed right angular relationship to said journal frames.

8. The distending means of claim 7, wherein (a) said length-extendable sections are connected to said short web gripping sections by universal joint means.

9. Apparatus for distending web materials such as open width knitted fabric or the like, comprising (a) a pair of diverging non-parallel journal frames,

(b) a plurality of supporting roller assemblies supported at their opposite ends in said journal frames and forming a sinuous path for said web material,

(c) said roller assemblies extending transversely of the axis of fabric travel and arranged to support the fabric across its width,

(d) said roller assemblies including a short web gripping section at each end for engaging and gripping edge extremities of the web material and advancing the web material edges divergently to a predetermined uniform width,

(e) said roller assemblies including telescopically interfitting length-extendable central fabric supporting sections having a smooth, non-web gripping surface relative to said web gripping sections, thereby permitting geometric readjustment of the fabric during widthwise distension,

(f) said journal frames being mounted for pivoting movement at points adjacent the last effective roller assembly at the discharge side of the distending apparatus, and

(g) means for pivoting the entry side ends of said journal frames inwardly and outwardly to follow the fabric edges.

ROBERT R. 15

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1854 Great Britain.

MACKEY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

